Prep Boys Soccer

In the two defeats, Trout Lake put just two of seven shots on goal (both against Sunnyside Christian) and allowed its opponents to take 67 shots, 28 on goal.

Said Mustangs Coach Doug Dearden: "Those statistics tell the story."

Dearden noted the matches could have been more lopsided if not for the play of senior goalkeeper Kris Wood, who had 16 saves in the Sunnyside match and six against Riverside.

"In my view, Kris is the outstanding goalie in the league this year and allows us to at least stay in some matches," Dearden added.

Against Riverside, Trout Lake kept the match scoreless until the 16th minute, when Jason Bjur scored unassisted for the Crusaders, who led 1-0 at halftime.

Bjur's goal was one of nine shots on goal for Riverside, which ended up outshooting Trout Lake, 29-4, and played a dominating defensive game that prevented the Mustangs from seriously testing goalie Chris Hargraves.

"Obviously we have to figure out how to get more scoring opportunities for (junior forward) Mikael Dick, our leading scorer with 12 goals this season," Dearden said.

Part of that, he observed, will come from improved play in the midfield, where Trout Lake had its problems against Sunnyside Christian.

"In the second half of the SC game we had 33 opportunities to control goal kicks," Dearden noted. "We only managed to control three of those balls in the middle of the field. We have to do a better job of winning the ball if we are to put some shots on goal."

The league-leading Knights--who led 2-0 at halftime on assisted goals in the 12th and 17th minutes--won most of the balls in the air and used them to their advantage.

Final tallies showed Sunnyside Christian with 41 shots and 19 on goal, versus Trout Lake's three shots and two on goal.